In a not-so-shocking move, the Green Bay Packers placed Jermichael Finley on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday. And in a thread of good news, coach Mike McCarthy said outside linebacker Clay Matthews would return to practice. »Read Full Article

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Aren't you glad that a roster spot was kept open for him while he spent most of his first few years in the training room with various injuries?? Mike Neal is not a starting-caliber NFL player.....period. And the experiment at OLB will/should end as soon as Matthews/Perrry return....if they can ever find their way out of the training room.

I think the plan was for Neal to be a pass rusher and not to have both of the players in front of him go down. He is learning a new position, but I'm impressed that you know so much about football that you have decided it isn't working. Perhaps we can fire ted thompson and kevin green and you can be the new olb coach/gm

Whatever.....And the first thing I would do as the new OLB coach/GM is hire you away from McDonald's as the new tackling dummy. Bottom line....Neal was drafted as D-Lineman to provide an inside pass rush.....couldnt stay healthy, couldnt get the job done.....and was mived to OLB at the start of this season. And as southlander points out, that's not working either. I think only a fool would imply, at this point, that Neal has done anything close to justifying his 2nd round draft position.....let alone a roster spot.

Random Predictions1. Finley's career in GB is done (2nd highest paid Packer this season)2. Tramon Williams is in his final season in GB (3rd highest paid Packer)3. Seneca Wallace's performance will be a more accurate barometer of Wallace's value. Monday night is not fair to judge his performance. If he doesn't significantly improve, look for Matt Flynn to be on speed dial if he's still available. If Wallace struggles, look for Rodgers collar bone to heal a lot faster.4. Nick Foles throws for less than 7 TDs on Sunday:)

I doubt Flynn is even on TT's radar. If a team like Buffalo, currently on their fifth QB, isn't interested, what makes you think the Packers are? Wallace has been in practice for 9 weeks, and now has some live in-game experience. Bob McGinn said that the plays called Monday night didn't play to Wallace's strengths, but it's difficult for a head coach to suddenly re-program the offense in mid-game. Give Wallace a week in practice, and some plays designed to help him succeed, and - most importantly - the NFL's 32nd ranked defense to play against, and let's see what happens.

Finley's career in GB is really an enigma. His career thus far as been defined by one word, "potential". He has shown flashes but then either gets injured or disappears. I always had such high hopes for him as a Packer and he attitude really looked like it turned a corner this season. Sadly he career could end like Nick Collins although the injuries are different but it might be the reason GB decides to move on. Unfortunately GB doesn't have ready made starter ready to step in. Quarless has not been impactful this season. Taylor is really a blocker/special teamer and Bostick is green as a grass. Where GB drafts every year (mid to late 20s), a decent TE in the draft could be available.

So I guess Finley was right to sign a two-year contract with $8 million payable this year. After all, his playing days may be over or very limited from here on. That being said, perhaps he is eligible for some kind of insurance settlement if he can't play anymore. I believe I read where he has a huge insurance contract as a hedge against this kind of career-ending injury.